People Not Things
Love Poems and Paintings for Humanity
by Genesis Be
In People Not Things: Love Poems for Humanity, Genesis Be offers a strikingly honest yet hopeful snapshot of her journey as a queer Black woman in America fighting for the humanity of her community.
Poignant and moving, this debut collection of poetry and paintings from Genesis Be bravely examines what it means to stay hopeful on the arduous journey to freedom.
Drawing on her activism and antiracist work as covered by the New York Times and VICE, Be examines tools of division and challenges our notion of freedom in an effort to combat racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. Equal parts delicate and unapologetic, People Not Things is a powerful debut that will speak to the hearts of readers from all walks of life.
REVIEW
5 out of 5
Poetry and art, work together in this collection, that challenges the things that are ubiquitous in modern life. Genesis Be is an activist, and her struggles and frustration with the status quo really shines through in this book. There are such strong emotions evoked by both the art and poetry, and you’ll feel your own anger at the injustice rampant in society rising up within you. It’s a unique skill to be able to evoke that level of emotion in a reader, and this is definitely a book I’ll be recommending and re-reading.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Genesis Be is a critically acclaimed poet, peace activist, and artist from Biloxi, Mississippi. Her work has been featured in the Associated Press, New York Times, NY Daily News, Soledad O’Brien, and VICE. She often uses theatrical protest during her live performances to bring attention to both global and localized issues surrounding racial justice, peace movement, queer visibility and gender equity. She creates original paintings, poetry, and music under her ever-growing collection, People Not Things. As a Cultural Ambassador for the Government funded Meridian International Center, Be works to promote understanding and conflict transformation on a Global level. She is the subject of the documentary Mississippi Turning (unreleased) and continues the fight to improve race relations in her home state Mississippi.